Escapement mechanism of linotype-machines.



N0. 882,792. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906. J. G. HOLBOURNS & H. A. LONGHURST. ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM OF LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APB..16. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 ,W w/w Noi 832,792. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

J. G. HO LBOURNS & H. A. LONGHURST.

ESGAPEMENT MECHANISM OF LINOTYPE MAGHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR.16. 1906.

2 SHBBTSSHEET 2v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM OF LINOTYPE-I VIACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed April 16, 1906- Serial No 311 971.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, J orm GLENNIE HoL- BOURNS and HENRY ALEXANDER Lone- HURST, of 188 Fleet street, London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Escapement Mechanism of Linotype-- Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvemerits in the escapement mechanism of linotype-machines, more especially in that of the commercial Mergent'haler linotype-machine described in the specification of Letters Patent No., 436,532. The matrices of this machine are arranged according to character in columns or channels in a magazine, all the matrices of the same character in one channel. The matrices in each channel are retained within the magazine by an escapement, the set of escapements being under the control of a keyboard. They pass from the magazine one by one and in the order in which the keys of the keyboard are manipulated, together with the necessary space-bars from the space-bar magazine, to the assembly-box, from which a composed line of them is, transferred to the shifter, which in its turn transfers the line to, the first elevator. This elevator presents the line to the casting mechanism which casts the" corresponding linotype. After the linotype has been cast the same elevator delivers the composed line of matrices to the distributor, which proceeds to return the matrices to the magazine, each matrix being returned to its proper channel, but to the opposite end of it. Thus each matriX in turn and on the initiative of the respective key passes through the same cycle of motion. Sorts-matrices are kept in a sorts-box and put into the assembly-box by hand and are rejected by the machine between the first elevator and the distributer, when they drop intothe pi-box. v They are taken out of the pi-box and returned to the respective compartments of the sorts-box by hand. Thus a sorts-matrix shares with magazine-matrices only a small portion of their cycle of motion.

A- magazine-matrix stands in and moves through the magazine with the side ed e that has the character cavity downward, t e two pawls of the escapement that controls that standing and passage cooperating with a lug projecting downward from the said side edges of each two leading matrices, these pawls working vertically in the plane of the matrisee. The character-cavity being wholly recessed within theb'ody of the matrix never gets in the way of-the pawls.

The specification of Letters Patent to Whit taker, No. 691,685, dated January 21, 1902, and to Speechley, No. 793,691, dated July 4,

1905, describe matrices for forming seatings or recesses in linotypes to receive columnrules. These matrices are characterized by flat projections or tongues projecting from' them in proper position for entering and corin the mold. They take the place on the si e edges of the matrices of the charactercavities of the ma azine-matrices. It has been found that sue a projection or tongue tends to get in the way of the rear one of the two escapement-pawls and to jam the escapement. The specification of Letters Patent No. 691,685 speaks of its column-rule matrices being composed into the assemblyboX by, the keyboard-actuated escapement in the same way as the ordinary matrices (and therefore from the magazine) and that of Letters Patent No. 793,691 speaks of them as being distributed to the magazine, but

neither of them describe how that composition.

is to be eifected. It has consequent y been the practice up to the present tune to treat these column-rule matrices as sorts-matrices; but as it takes longer to compose sorts-matrices by hand than 1t does to compose magazine-matrices from the keyboard and as such hand composition costs more than keyboard composition it is obvious that a double advantage would be derived from the presence of the above-described column-rule matrices in the magazine under the control of the keyboard and of their being made in all other respects capable of sharing the full cycle of the magazine-matrices The principal objects of the present invention are to make these column-rule matrices capable of sharing the above-named full cycle, and, further, to enable the escapement appertaining to the channel containing such rule-matrices to be coupled to one or more of the other-ordinary escapements, so that the operation of the first-named escapement will be immediately followed; by the automatic operation of the other escapement or escapements coupled thereto in proper sequence, so as with one depression of a key-lever to bring down into the assembly-box all the matrices required to roduce any oft-repeat ed combination, wor or syllable.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, and the essential features of novelty are hereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an elevation, viewed from the left-hand side of the ma chine and shown partly in section, of as much ofth'e apparatus as is necessary to illustrate this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 with parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a lan corre' sponding to a part of Fig. 2, buts owing the devices in a different position. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the escapement. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the apparatus is applied to the machine, only a portion of which is-represented and that in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a perspec tive view, and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are vertical sections of the coupler devices.

In carrying out this invention we preferably utilize .the leftmost of the channels of the magazine 1 for storing the column-rule matrices 2, for the reason that this channel is generally a spare one, there being usually ma azine.

ninety-one of such channels in the ordinary commercial linotype-machine, of which only ninety are usual y employed and provided with escapements.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that each of the column-rule matrices 2, which are in-that figure represented in-dotted lines, is provided with the well-known distributingteeth 2, whereby it is adapted for automatic distribution by the usual distributer mechanism and also with one of the before-mentioned fiat projections or tongues 3, which latter when the said matrices are stored in the magazine 1 are presented downward. It is for that reason that the existing form of es capement is not found suitable, because as the two escapement-pawls thereof work through the bottom of the ma azine the rear one of such pawls would ion or be fouled by thepro "ections 3, and thereby cause a jamming of t e escapement. To avoid such a defective working, the escapementawls 4 5 are arran ed to Work through the si e 6, Figs. 2 and 3, o the magazine, the said pawl-s, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, entering the magazine horizontally and working in an inclined plane above the path of the rojections 3. I

The outer ends of t e pawls 4 5 are suitably pivoted' to. an inclined lever 7, adapted to oscillate u on a pivot or screw 8, fast to a block 9, rigi ly attached to the side of the The lever 7 is in engagement wit the upper end of a lever 10, adapted to be rocked ma vertical plane upon a pivot or At its lower end escapement-rod 14, which is guided at its upper end by a clip or guide 15, fast to the block 9, and at its lower end in a guide 16, provided at the rear end of a bracket 17/, which is rigidly attached 'to-any convenient part of the machine-flame, a portion of which is represented by the dotted lines 18 in Fig. 5. The rear edge of the esca ement-rod 14 is formed with a recess '19, a apted to receive the tail 1-3 when this rod is raised sufliciently to present the said recess to the tail.- When the rod is in its lower position, the tail 13 bears on the cam projection 20, as indicated in Fig. 1. The escapement-rod 14 is acted upon-by a tension-spring 21, which. constantly tends to draw it downward or to return it after it has been raised to its lowermost posi tion, and it is engaged with the rear end of a key-lever 22, ivoted to the bracket 17 and conveniently ocated near the left hand of the existing keyboard. The lowermost po sition of the escapement-rod 14 is determined by a stop-pin 23, proj ecting below the rear end of the key-lever 22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Upon the escsz l'pemen't-rod 14 there is adjustably secure -as, for example, by a pinching-screw 24a collar 25, adapted to engage with the under side of the rear end of a .pin- 26, passing diametrically through a rocking shaft 27, which'extends in front of this escapem-ent-ro-d, as well as in front of all the other usual escapement-rods, and at its .ends the 'said rocking shaft is supported in suitable bearings 28, only one of which is shown in Fig. 5. The pin 26 is free to turn in and to sli-de in the direction of its length through the rocking shaft 27 and is provided with a head 29 and a cross-pin 30, the latter of which is adapted to fit into a groove 31. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 7, and 8.) Between the rocking shaft 27 and the head 29 there is provided a compression-spring 32, which constantly tends to move the pin 26 in a forward direction farther away from the escapement-rod 14, so as tobe out of reach of the adjustable collar 25, as represented in 'Fig. 8. When the pin is required in operation, the cross-pin 30 is turned across the mouth of the groove 31, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, so that the saidpin 26 is retained in its rearmost position, in which it extends into the ath of the collar 25. The rocking shaft 27 is also provided with a rib 33, Figs.

6 and 9, which is of sufficient length to ex tend in front of all of the usual escapementrods 34 or as many of them as may be re quired to be included in any coupled combination. In Fig. 6 only two of the rods 34 are represented and these on an exaggerated scale and at an exaggerated distance a art. This rib3-3 projects close up to' the out edges of the escapement-rods 34 and is adapted to engage with the under sides'of collars 35 36, adjustably secured-as, for example; by pinching-screws 37-on the respective escapement-rods 34. The collars 35 36 are secured in different positions on their respective rods 34, so that the rib 33 shall contact therewith in the order in which .the respective matrices are to be released'to form the desired sequences or combinations in the assembly-box.

The respective positions of the before-described top of the escapement-rod 14, the cam projection 20, recess 19, tail 13on the lever 10, and sprin 12 ma be changed, provided that the foilowing f imctional relationships be preserved. i

When the key-lever 22 is at rest, as indi- I cated in Figs. 1 and 2, the cam 1projection 20 is in engagement with the tai 13, thereby holding the frontpawl 4 rocked into the magazine in front of the leading or lowermost of' the column-rule matrices 2 and the rear pawl 5 clear of thesaid matrices against the pressure of the spring 12, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The escapement-rod 14 is held with its cam projection 20 in the position just mentioned, partly by itsown spring 21 and partly by its weight, the stop 23 preventing it from being pulled or dropping below this oint. V

When the key-lever 22 is depressed-and it is depressed to release a column-rule matrix 2the escapementrod 14 is raised in its guides 15 and 16 against thepull of the spring 21, thereby carrying the cam projection 20 away from the tail 13 and presentingthe rec'ess 19 to't'he latter, into which it is forthwith pushed by the spring 12. This makes the escapement-lever 7 move the front pawl 4 from before the leading matrix 2 (which forthwith drops from the magazine 1) and the rear pawl-5 in front of the second matrix, as indicated inFig. 3. When the key-lever 22is ;released, the spring 21 pulls the cam projection 20 downward into its original position, thereby reversing the escapementpawls 4' and 5 in time to admit of the pawl 4 stopping the then leading matrix, as indi-. cated in Fig].l2.

By attac 'ng the block 9 to the side of the magazine 1 and by the manner in which, the lever 10 is operated by the escapement-rod 14, as hereinbefore described, the changing. of the magazines, as hitherto practiced for obtaining a change of font, is in no way interfered with.

fre .of t

In composin tabular matter the operator has general y to compose a considerable number of oft-recurring and identical se quences or combinations, which, unless special provision be made, necessitates the de pression of all the individual key-levers to release the several matrices corresponding to those combinations. As an example of such a combination attention maybe directed to railway timetables, wherein many repetitions, such as the following, are to be found, viz: rule, en-quad, leader, and em-quad. To compose such a combination on the ordinary linotype-machine necessitates four separate depressions of the respective key-levers; but

by the present invention the same result may be obtained by a single operation. For this purpose it is necessary to adjust the respective collars 35 36, &c., so that the parts immediately concernedin the operation'shall be caused to operate in the following order: The key-lever 22 is depressed to release the necessary column-rule matrix 2, (and this is the only operation necessary on the part of the operator,) and this operation, besides releasing thesaid matrix 2, through the pin 26 rocks the shaft 27, which, through its rib 33 and the respective collars 35 36, &c., first raises the escapement-rod appertaining to the en-quad, then that appertaining to the leader-matrix, and then that appertaining to theem-quad, these movements of the said e'scapement-rods following each other at the intervals apart necessary for allowing the matrices and quads to reach the assembly- .box in the desired order of composition. Y

If the sequence or combination which is uently'recurring consists of the three last e four matrices given'in the preceding example, then the key-lever 22 may still serve for composing it at one operation. This result may be obtained by either emptying the magazine-channel containing the columnrule matrices 2,'in which case the operation of the escapement-p'awls 4 5 would have no effect, or the said channel may be retained full of matrices and the ascent and descent of the escapement-rod 14 be rendered ineffective upon the escapement-pawls 4 5,whicli latter result may, for example, be secured by inserting a pin or equivalent (not shown in the drawings) in a hole 38, Fig. 1, provided for the purpose, close to the back of the upper end of the lever 10, and which pin would serve to prevent the said lever from rocking on its pivot 11; -There are numerous other frequently-recurring sequences or combinations of matrices or slugs for the composition of which the before-described devices may be em- 'ployedwith great advantage and economy.

.exten s over two lines.

' would be dealt with as ordinary matrices H nar and would be provided with tributarteeth, such as 2 in Fig. 1,' and contained in the leftmost magazine-channel. With these two line matrices so stored in the magazine 1. a single depression of the key-lever 22 may be caused to release all the matrices appertainin to the word Wanted by adjusting the coll hrs 35 36, &c., appertaining to the respective a, n, and d matrices so that these latter shall be released in the desired order of composition.

Numerous other examples of these frequently-recurring displayed advertisements might be mentioned, and all capable of being-dealt with in a manner corresponding to that previously described, but their enumeration would serve no useful purpose.

In lists of. names the abbreviation Esq. frequently recurs, and the matrices may therefore all be released by a single depression of the key-lever 22 after having first made the necessary adjustments for rendering the operation of the escapem'ent-rod 14A ineffective upon the escapcment-pawls 4 5 and effective upon the escapements appertainingto the-E. s, q, and matrices.

In subscriptionlists there generally are numerous repetitions of the sequence comprising a leader, an em-space, and a leader, and by means of this invention the matrices and uads appertaining to such a sequence may e released all by one depression of the he -lever 22.

n the composing of addresses in linotypemachines there is a considerable amount of quaddin necessary, and this work may be eatly acilitated by the present invention,

ecanse the leftmost of the magazine-channelsmay be charged-with em-quads and the coupler be arranged to couple the escapement of this channel with those of the ordi em and en quad channels, so that by eac depression 0 the key-lever 22 two em; quads and one en-qua'd will be addedto the assembling-line. This capacity is of course additional; to that. which rovides for the assembling-of the em-qua s and en-quads independently of each other, this being efl f'ectedrby depressing their respective key-leve sasordinarily.

Afurther advantageous use to whichthis invention may be put is to 'rovide fon'the rialem'by one depressioniof t "e key-lever- 22 of two similar-letters for assembling matrices for forming .wordssuch, for example, as street, need, feed, meet, &c;, and this result may be attainedby charging the' leftmost of the'magazine-channels with e matrices and r so adjusting the before-described cou ling devices that the depression of the key-liver 22, besides operating the escapement-pawls 4 5, also operates the escapementof the ordinary e matrix channel. Similar provision may of course be made for double letters other than es, the e example being given only by reason of its being found to recur more frequently than any others.

When it is re uired to release only the matrix stored in t 1e leftmost magazine-channel as distinguished from that matrix plus the others forwhich the coupler devices had last been adjusted, the operator withdraws the before-described pin 26 into the inoperative-position, in which it is represented in Fig. 8, and then depresses the key-lever 22, this de ression then having no effect upon the rec ing shaft 27.

It is to be observed that the foregoing devices, while enabling the depression of a singlc-key-lcver to effect the release of a sequence of matrices, in no Way prevents each of such matrices being, as ordinarily, released by its own individual key-lever, audit is to be further observed that, as the escapement mechanism hereinbefore described is spe cially designed for controlling the release of column-mic matricesstored in the leftmost magazine channel, when that channel is not intended to be usedfor those matrices the said channel may be provided with an escapcment of ordinary construction, the rod oi this escapement being adapted to rock the shaft 27 in the same manner as that already described and shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

It has hitherto been proposed to provide linOtype-machines with special key-levers which at each depression would release certain definite sequences of matrices; but these devices have admitted of no variation or adjustment, so that if a frequently-recurring sequence occurs in the job in hand, which sequence is not provided for by these special key-levers, such matter must be composed by operating the individual key-levers.

t has also been proposed to provide these machines with a rotating barrel whichby means of projecting pins would actuate oer.- tain prearranged series of key-levers, these in turn operating the respective escapements for releasing the desired sequence of matrices; but "this arrangementdoes not lenditself to ready adjustment and is, moreover, costly in its construction and application. The before-described a aratus, unlike those last mentioned, com mes-the-facility for adjustment with economy in -ccnstruction and! ap plication".

ITS

- an escapement, an escapement-rod andkeylever therefor, a rocking shaft adjacent to the said escapement rod, the ordinary escapement-rods, and devices ada ted to opera-- tively connect this shaft with all of the escapement-rods. I

2. In a linotype-machine the combination with the leftmost channel of the ma azine, of an escapeme'nt escapern'ent-rod and ey-lever therefor, a roching shaft adjacent to the said escapement rod, the ordinary. escapemen-trods, and a device adapted to place the said shaft in and out of operative connection with this escapement-rod. 3. In a linotype-machine the combination pawls adapted to horizontally reciprocate through one side, as distinguished from the back or front, of the said channel, and a keylever operatively connected with the said pawls ada ted to reciprocate them.

4. In a inotype-machine the combination with one of the outermost channels of the magazine, of two escapement pawls adapted to horizontally reciprocate throu hone side, as distinguished from the back or front, of the said channel, and .a key-lever operatively connected with the said'pawls adapted to reciprocate them. I 1

5. In a linotype-machine the combination with one of the outermost channels of 'the magazine, of *two horizontal escapementpawls adapted to horizontally reciprocate through one side of the said channel, a lever in pivotal connection with both of these pawls and pivoted to turn on an axis perpendicular to the inclinedtplane of the magazine and anescapem'ent-ro inoperative connec+ tionwith the said lever;

6. In a linotype-machine, the-combination with one of the outermost channels of the magazine, of two horizontal escapeinentpawls adapted to horizontally reciprocate through one side of the said channel, a lever in pivotal connection with both ofv these paWls and ivoted to turn on an axis perpendicular to t e inclined plane of the magazine, a vertical lever'engaging the first-named lever adapted to rock in a vertical plane, and an cs5 out of the wlth a'rnagazine-channel of two escapementrods bot capement-rod andspr-ing engaging the vertical lever andgadapted to rock it in a vertical plane.

7. Ina linotype-machine the combination with the escapement-rods, of a rocking shaft adjacent thereto, devices operatively connecting-one of the escap'ement-rods with the rocking shaft ada ted to rock the latter, and devices operative y connecting the otheres-- capement-rods with the rocking shaft adapted todimpart longitudinal motion -to the said ro s.

8. In a linotype-machine the combination with the escapement-rods, of a rocking shaft adjacent thereto, a collar on one 'of the rods,

a projection on the rocking shaft ada ted to project into the path of the collar an means adapted to retain the said projection in and ath of the collar. 9

, 9. In'a" inotype-machin'e the combination with the 'escapementa'ods, of a rocking shaft adjacent thereto, collars on the said rods, a projection on the rocking shaft adapted to contact with the'collars, and-devices on the collars for enabling them to be adjusted in and out of reach ofthe projection.

10. In a linotype-machine the combination with the escapement-rods, of a rocking shaft adj acent thereto, devices operatively con.- nectingone of the escapement-rods withthe rocking. shaft ada ted to rock the latter, said devices cap able'of eing rendered inoperative,

and devices operatively connecting the other escapement rods with the rocking shaft rods.

11. In a linotype-machine the combination with the escapement-rods, of a rocking shaft adjacent thereto, devices operatively connecting one ofthe escapement-rods with the rocking shaft ada ted to rock thelatter, and

adapted to impart longitudinal motion to the 3841 devices operative y connecting the other escapement-rods with the rockingshaft adaptedto im art longitudinal motion to the said iisetsfofdevices being capable of bein rendered inoperative.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GLENNIE Promoters.

HENRY ALEXANDER LONGHURST.

* Witnesses:

H. D; Jameson. 

